My remote control is with someone else but what about Nadda: Congress chief Kharge's counter to Modi
Belagavi, Mar 20: Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "remote control" jibe at him and the Congress, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday asked as to where was BJP chief J P Nadda's remote control.
Accusing the Modi-led BJP government of "troubling" party leader Rahul Gandhi for "speaking the truth", the Congress President said he doesn't fear such things and was ready for everything.
"Modi came to Belagavi and said - Kharge has become President (Congress), but remote control is with someone else. Okay, my remote control is with someone else, but where is Nadda's (BJP national President J P Nadda) remote control?" Kharge asked.
Addressing the 'Yuva Kranti Samavesha', a youth convention, organised by the party's state unit here, he said: "Nadda speaks under control of whose remote? There are lots of weak spots about you (BJP), for us (Congress) to speak about. You lack courage..."
Claiming that Kharge, who hails from the state, was insulted and disrespected by the Congress in favour of a "family", despite his seniority and age, PM Modi while addressing a public meet here on February 27 had said, "This shows Kharge is Congress President just for the sake of it, and looking at the way he is treated, everyone can see and understand, as to whose hands the remote control is in."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, state unit chief D K Shivakumar, Legislature Party leader and Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah among several leaders were part of the mega rally organised at CPED ground here.
Noting that Rahul Gandhi questioned the government in the Lok Sabha on the Adani-Hindenburg issue, the Congress chief alleged that (parts of) his speech was removed from records in Parliament. "Similarly, mine (Kharge's) was removed from records in Rajya Sabha."
"This is democracy... Is it wrong to say that democracy was not functioning properly in this country? To say there is still casteism in this country? You (BJP government) don't allow us to speak the truth, while you keep lying," he asserted.
"Your (BJP government's) ED, CBI or CVC cannot overpower us, we don't fear them. Rahul Gandhi has never feared and will never fear. He speaks the truth, and such a person is being troubled. Let them do it, will they jail him? We are ready for everything," he added.
Pointing out that during the course of the nationwide Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, Gandhi met farmers, youth, women, and every strata of the society, Kharge said: "Forty-six days after the speech made by Rahul Gandhi in Jammu and Kashmir about the problems shared by the people, Delhi Police came to his door seeking for proof regarding his statement on alleged rape or sexual harassment on a women, quoting her."
Despite the Karnataka contractors' association giving proof for their 40 per cent commission charge in the state, no action is being taken, Kharge claimed. "Modi and Shah (Amit Shah) should take action here and make an inquiry as the proof is already given here, then come to Rahul Gandhi."
This was Kharge's first visit to Belagavi after taking over as the Congress President.
He pointed out that Belagavi was a "sacred land" for Congress, as Mahatma Gandhi was elected as the party's President in the district in 1924, and Jawaharlal Nehru was appointed as the General Secretary.
Kharge, seeking the blessings of the people of the state for the upcoming assembly polls, asked the party leaders and workers to fight the polls with unity.
He also accused the BJP government in Karnataka of rampant corruption, and praised the KPCC's poll 'guarantees' including the unemployment allowance for the youth, which was announced today as the fourth 'guarantee', in the event of the party coming to power.
The party has already announced three poll 'guarantees' 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), and 10 kg of rice free to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya).
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I've 10 months to decide whether I want to play one more year: Dhoni on IPL future
New Delhi(PTI): The legendary MS Dhoni stayed immune to the growing clamour around his future in the IPL, saying the decision to bring curtains on his career depends on how his body reacts to the demands of top-flight cricket and he has "10 months" to take a call.
In this IPL, Dhoni has not been able to make the kind of impact that he usually does while batting in the lower middle-order.
His lack of timing and ineffectiveness, evidenced in the 76 runs that he made from four matches, have prompted several experts to urge the multiple World Cup-winning skipper to move on.
"I am still playing the IPL and it is one year at a time for me. I am 43 now and by the end of this IPL season, I will be 44," Dhoni said on entrepreneur Raj Shamani's podcast recently.
"So, I have 10 months to decide whether I want to play one more year and it's not me to decide as it is my body that decides whether I can play or not," he added.
However, the former Chennai Super Kings skipper, who led CSK to five IPL titles, said he is quite content with his achievements on the field.
"It is not about whether I am happy or unhappy. Whatever has happened has happened. It cannot be changed. It's about accepting all of it. You know, whatever happens I will not be able to add one more run to my international runs, and no one will be able to reduce them," he said.
Dhoni has always been a man of the present. But, for once, he set aside that pragmatic side to reveal his wish of seeing legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh assemble in the same team once again.
"I will stick to Indian players. Viru pa opening the innings, Sachin, Dada… and now you imagine everyone at their prime. Then you will get this feeling that there can't be anyone better than them.
"It's tough to pick an all-time eleven. Now, when you see Yuvi hitting six sixes, you will feel that I don't want to watch any other batsman. It's all about enjoying what they have done for India. Some of those talents we have seen are mind blowing," he added.
